PHOTO FRIDAY: Air Force One At Boeing Field (The Sonic Boom-Free Edition)

President Obama came to the Seattle area Tuesday to do some fundraising, which of course meant that Air Force One was here to transport him.

Which, as we all know by now, meant restricted air space…and the now-historic resulting double sonic booms (read our coverage here) because of a float plane pilot’s lack of judgment.

Not-so-ironically, the Air Force One that landed at Boeing Field is a Boeing 747-200B, with the tail code 29000. According to The White House website:

Technically, Air Force One is the call sign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. In practice, however, Air Force One is used to refer to one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft, which carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A.

Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, spawning countless references not just in American culture but across the world. Emblazoned with the word “United States of America,” the American flag, and the Seal of the President of the United States, it is an undeniable presence wherever it flies.

Capable of refueling midair, Air Force One has unlimited range and can carry the President wherever he needs to travel. The onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States.

Inside, the President and his travel companions enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, including an extensive suite for the President that features a large office, lavatory, and conference room. Air Force One includes a medical suite that can function as an operating room, and a doctor is permanently on board. The plane’s two food preparation galleys can feed 100 people at a time.

Photographer Francis Zera, himself somewhat of an aviation nut, found a good lookout and shot the following Sound Slideshow of Air Force One (be sure your speakers are turned on):